Operating-table.



N0. 812,240. PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906. J.'SGHOETTL, G. JABGER & P.WALSLEBEN.

OPERATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.10,1903.

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Paul 0 PATENTED FEB. 13

OPERATING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED 11112.10, 190s.

J. SGHOETTL, G. JAEGER & P. WALSLEBEN.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SOHOETTL, CHRISTIAN JAEGER, AND PAUL VVALSLEBEN, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO DAVID FRANK, OF BROOK- LYN, NEl/V YORK,AND JOHN TROUNSTINE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

OPERATING-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

Application filed March 10. 1903. Serial N0. 147,045.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JosEPH ScHoETTL, CHRISTIAN JAEGER, and PAULWVALsLEBEN, citizens of the United States, and residents of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Operating-Tables, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in operating-tables for the use ofsurgeons and it consists in the novel features, arrangements, andcombinations of parts hereinafter described, and more particularlypointed out in the claims.

One object of the invention is to provide a portable operating-tablewhich shall be strong and light and capable of being folded into compactform, so as to be readily carried or transported from one place toanother, so that a surgeon when performing operative work in a privatedwelling may be conveniently equipped with satisfactory means forcarrying on the work. The operating-table of our invention is formed ofhinged sections, which may be folded one upon another and the wholecompactly arranged within a small compass.

A further object of the invention is to produce an operating-table onwhich the patient may be more effectually and conveniently given thevarious positions required, according to the nature of the case, theparts of the table being adjustable in their relation to one another andthe whole capable of being easily and conveniently manipulated while thepatient is on the table without discomfort to the patient or theexercise of any great exertion on the part of the surgeon or attendant.

The nature and objects of the invention will more fully appearhereinafter, and the said invention will be fully understood from thedetailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of anoperating table constructed in accordance with and embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a top view, partly broken away, of same. Fig. 3 isa side elevation of same, the supporting part of the table beingillustrated in position for securing the Trendelenburg posture; and Fig.3 denotes by the heavy dotted line a further u position which may begiven to the supporthome of a patient.

a top view of same.

in its several positions.

ing part of the table, this latter position being of especial importancein operations pertaining to kidney and abdominal troubles. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the entire table in its folded form ready to beplaced in a satchel or box for transportation from, for illustration,the oflice of a surgeon to the Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached sideelevation of a portion of the table and illustrates more particularlythe means for enabling the adjustment of the headboard of the table.Fig. 6is an enlarged detached side elevation, partlyin section, of oneof the legs of the table, these legs being formed of hinged sections andhaving a slidable sleeve, shown in section in Fig. 6, for locking thesections of the legs in rigid alinement with each other when the tableis to be put into use. a vertical section on the dotted line 7 7 of Fig8 of a portion of the table, shown on an enlarged scale, and ispresented to illustrate more particularly the means for raising andlowering the foot end of the table. Fig. 8 is Fig. 9 is an enlarged sideelevation of a portion of the central part of the table-top and ispresented to illustrate more particularly the joint between the twosections of the table-top and the locking means for holding saidsections in rigid relation on the same plane. Fig. 10 is a top view ofsame. Fig. 11 is an enlarged side elevation of the middle portion of oneof the side bars of the table-supporting frame and is presented toillustrate more particularly the joint between the two sections of saidside bar and the means for locking said sections in their end-to-endrelation on the same horizontal plane. Fig. 12 is a top view of same.Fig. 13 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the foot board orframe and adjoining edge of the main body of the table and is presentedto illustrate more particularly the means for securing said foot boardor frame Fig .14 is a top view, partly in section, of same. Fig. 15 isan enlarged side elevation of the middle portion of one of the inclinedbraces for the table-legs and is presented to illustrate more clearlythe joint between the sections of said braces and the means. for lockingsaid sections in their alined end-to-end relation, and Fig. 16 is a topedge view of same. i

In the drawings, 20 denotes the legs of the Fig. 7 1s to spring intoapertures 59 in the sections 51 52, said apertures passing into linewith each other when the sections 51 52 are in their endto-end relation.hen it is desired to fold up the braces 22, the attendant will, bypressing outwardly on the handle end of the latch 57, withdraw the pin58 from the apertures 59 and turn the latch 57 outwardly against theedge of the section 52, giving it an opposite position to that shown inFig. 16. It has been described above that the lower end of the braces 22are recessed to simplyhook upon the pins 50, carried by the legs 20, andas a means for preventing any accidental displacement of the lower endsof said braces from said pins 50 we so dispose said pins that after thebraces have been hooked thereon and the sleeves 17 are moved downwardlyon the legs 20 into their operative position the lower edges of saidsleeves 47 will come into close relation to the upper edges of the lowerends of the braces 20 and prevent said braces at their lower ends frommoving upwardly from the pins 50. Then it is desired to fold the table,the sleeves 47 are moved upwardly, so that the sections of the legs 20may be folded against each other, and hence when the sleeves 47 are intheir upper position the attendant will be free to unhook the lower endsof the braces 22 from the pins 50. The braces 22 will also be providedwith inwardly-projecting pins 60, Figs. 15 and 16, to contact with thelower edges of the side bars or frames 21 when the sections of saidbraces are folded together and turned upwardly against said side bars orframes. In Figs. 15 and 16 we illustrate, on an enlarged scale, aportion of the left-hand brace 22, (shown in position in Fig. 1,) and itwill be observed that-the upper section 51 of this left-hand brace hasits lower end at the inner side of the upper end of the lower section 52thereof. In the arrangement of the right-hand brace 22, Fig. 1, thelower end of the upper section 51 is at the outer side of the upper endof the lower section 52, this being a reversal of the order ofarrangement of the sections of the left-hand brace, and this is for thepurpose of enabling the compact and convenient folding up of the saidbraces and is due to the fact that the righthand brace at its upper endis, at the bolt 31, at the outer side of the upper end of the lefthandbrace Due to the reversal of the meeting ends of the sections of thebraces 22 the spring-latch 57 of the right-hand brace 18 pivotallysecured to the upper section 51 thereof instead of to the lower section52, as

shown in Fig. 15, with respect to the left-hand brace, the spring-latch57 thus in both instances being enabled to lie flat against a continuoussurface of one section of the brace.

The main body of the table-top 25 com prises, as hereinbefore stated,the two sections 26 27, corresponding substantially in size with eachother and pivotally connected at their meeting ends at about thetransverse center of the table, and the said table top 25 is free at itsright-hand or foot end, Fig. 3, to be raised and lowered atwill,while atits lefthand or head end the said table-top is secured in a hingedmanner upon the transverse rod 39, connecting the upper ends of thelefthand pair of legs 20. Each section 26 27 of the table-top comprisesparallel side bars, end bars 61, and crossing thin steel straps 62, Fig.2, secured at their ends to the said side bars and end bars.

The manner of forming the joint at the meeting ends of the side bars ofthe table-top 25 is illustrated more clearly in Figs. 9 and 10 andcorresponds substantially with the manner of forming the joint at themeeting ends of the sections 29 30 of the top side frames or bars 21 ofthe table. Upon the inner end of the side bars of the section 27 of thetable-top is secured the corresponding plates 63, Figs. 9 and 10, whichdepend downwardly to form ears for receiving the pivot-pin 64 and areadapted to overlap the oint between the sections 26 27 when thetable-top 25 is on a given plane with said sections in end-to-endrelation, as shown in Fig. 9. The side bars of the section 26 have attheir inner ends depending lug portions 65, which are between the lowerends of the plates 63 and pivotally secured upon the pins 64, wherebythe sections 26 27 become hinged together. When the sections 26 27 arein direct line with each other, the meeting ends of the side bars ofsaid sections come together, as denoted in Figs. 9 and 10, and thus avery rigid tabletop resisting downward pressure is secured, while at thesame time the said table-top may at its center be folded upwardly, asdenoted by the heavy dotted line 66 in Fig. 3, this folding of thetable-top being desired both for securing a desirable posture for thepatient and also to enable the compact folding up of the table whendesired. Then the table-top 25 is in its lower flat position, it willlie between the top side bars 21 of the table-frame and the pivot-pin64, for the sections of the tabletop will then be in line with thepivot-bolts 31 for the sections of the top side bars 21, and thus whenit is desired to fold the table into compact form the sections of thetable-top and the sections of the side bars 21 mayboth be foldedupwardly upon a given center, the sections of the table-top 25 remainingbetween the sections of the side bars 21 and the whole being folded asone integral structure. For the purpose of locking the sections 26 27 ofthe table-top 25 against having any folding movement we provide thepivoted latches 67, which are pivotally secured to the sections 26 andat their free ends have shoulders 68, Fig. 10, adapted to engage theright-hand edges of the outer plates 63, these latches 67 serving tolock the sections 26 27 in their end-to-end relation, preventing thesections 26 27 from being folded upwardly and aiding them in resistingdownward pressure. The latches 67 are provided with thumb-pieces,- asshown in Figs. 9 and 10, whereby they may be conveniently turnedupwardly from the outer plates 63 when it is desired that the table-topshall be folded upwardly at its central portions. I

The means we provide for raising and lowering the right-hand or foot endof the tabletop are shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 7 and 8 andcomprise the rack-bars 69, pivotally secured at their upper ends to theside bars of the section 27 of the table-top, and thence extendingdownwardly through'swiveled loops 7 0, within which they are retained inmesh with the gear-wheels 71, the latter being rigid upon a transverseshaft 72, sup ported slightly below the lower edges of the side bars 21in bearing-apertures formed in the depending plates 73, secured to saidside bars 21. Adjacent to each endof the shaft 72, intermediate the sidebars 21, there is a gear-wheel 71 and a swiveled loop 70, and to eachside bar of the section 27 of the tabletop 25 is secured-a rack-bar 69,the rack-bars 69 passing downwardly through the loops 70 and engagingthe gear-wheels 71. The outer extremity of the transverse shaft 72 atthe front of the table carries a ratchet-wheel 73 and is of polygonalform in cross-section to receive an ordinary crank or key by which theshaft 72 may be rotated for efiecting through the gear-wheels 71, rigidthereon, and the rackbars 69 the raising and lowering of the tabletop25. Upon the side bar 21 of the tableframe is pivoted a pawl 74 toengage the ratchet 73 and prevent reverse motion in the shaft 72 andgear-wheels 71 during the upward movement of the table-top 25. After thetable-top 25 has been elevated and it may be desired to lower the samethe attendant will turn the pawl 74 from the ratchet-wheel 73 and thenunder the control of theoperating-crank to be placed on the shaft72lower the right-hand or foot end of said table-top,

whereupon he will again restore the pawl 7 4 to the ratchet 73. Weprovide a pin 75 on the side bars 21 to support the free end of the pawl74 when the latter is turned from the ratchet 73. During the raising andlowering of the table-top 25 the rack-bars 29 will naturally have apivotal movement, said rack-bars when the table-top is in its lowerposition assuming the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1, andthen as the table-top is elevated gradually moving from that posi tionto the positions in which said rack-bars are illustrated in Figs. 7 and3, and it is for this reason that we swivel the loops 70, which guidethe bars 69 and retain them in firm mesh with the gear-wheels 71.

are apertured in their opposite side's'to freely pass upon thetransverse shaft 72, andhence said loops may turn upon said shaft underthe movement imparted to them by the rackbars 69, and at the same timethe loops 70 do not interfere with the rotation of said shaft 72.

When the table-top 25 is to be used with its sections 26 27 in directlinewith each other, the latches 67 will be left in their lockingposition, (shown in Figs. 3 and 9 but when the said table-top is to beused in the position represented by the dotted line 66 in Fig. 3 thelatches 67 will be turned from engagement with the outer plates 63, andthe pivoted rack-bars 76, Fig. 3, will be turned downwardly in thedirection indicated by the dotted lines leading from their lower end, sothat the head end 26 of the table-top 25 may, by

means of the said rack-bars 26, be independently supported in anupwardlyinclined position, the said rack-bars '76'being caused to engagethe cross-bar 41, secured to the side bars 21 of the table-frame,the'right hand edge of said bar 41 serving as a pawl to, en-

gage the teeth of the rack-bars 76. There are two rack-bars 7 6, one ateach side of the section 26 of the table-top, and their lower ends areconnected by a rod 77. bars 76 are only used when the table-top is to beconverted into the kidney or abdominal posture represented by the dottedline 66 in Fig. 3, and when they are not in use they are simply foldedup against the sides of the section 26 of the table-top, as shown byfull lines in Fig. 3, said rack-bars fitting sufficiently tight againstthe sides of said section 26 to maintain theirfolded position shown;When it is desired to convert the table-top from the Trendelenburgposture shown by. full lines in Fig. 3 to the position represented Therackby the dotted line 66 in Fig. 3 ,the latches 67 g are unlocked andthe shaft 72 turned toraise the right-hand end of the table-top 25 to asufiiciently greater extent to enable the attendant to turn down therack-bars 76, so jthat'upon the lowering ofthe table-top 25 the teeth ofsaid rack-bars may engage the transverse bar 41 and-servelas props toindependently support the head end or left-hand end of the table-topduring the subsequent reverse motion of the shaft 72 to lower the footend of the table-top. After the rackbars 76 have passed into firmengagement ,with the transverse bar 41 the attendant will then assumingthe form of a double inclined plane upon which the patient lies on hisside for operations about the kidney. This position may be secured byreason of the fact that the main bodyof the table-top 25 may The loops70 be folded upwardly at about'its center, andin the manner describedthis position is secured without the necessity of lifting the patientfrom the table, which is an important consideration, the patient beingplaced upon the table, the table-top then being given the inclinedposition shown by full lines in Fig. 3, and then converted to theposition represented by the dotted line 66. After the table has beengiven the position shown by the dotted line 66 and the work of thesurgeon has been completed, the right-hand end of the table-top 25 maybe restored to its elevated position in line with the left-hand end ofsaid top, the rack-bars 76 folded upwardly against the table-top, asshown in Fig. 3, and the entire table-top then by the reverse motion ofthe shaft 72 lowered to the flat hori zontal position represented inFigs. 1 and 2, whereupon the patient may be conveniently removed fromthe table.

The head frame or board 23 corresponds with the general structure of thesections of the table-top 25, being formed of side bars 80, end bars 81,and thin steel connecting bars or straps 82. Upon the inner ends of theside bars 80 of the head board or frame are secured plates 83, having arecess 84, and upon the left-hand ends of the side bars of the section26 of the table-top are secured ratchet-plates 85, and the head board orframe 23 is pivotally secured to the left-hand end of the table-top 25by pins 86, which pass through the plates 83 and ratchet-plates 85, thepurpose being to so hinge the said head board or frame 23 that it mayturn flat upon the section 26 of the table-top for folding the table up,and from that position be turned on the line of a circle, as representedby the dotted line in Fig. 1, and given any desired position at theleft-hand or head end of the table. For the purpose of cooperating withthe recessed plates 83 and ratchet-plates 85 we provide a rod 87, whosemiddle portion extends transversely across the head frame or board, asshown in Fig. 2, and whose end portions 88 extend along the outer sidesof the side bars 80 and thence turn inwardly through free apertures insaid side bars 80, as shown in Fig. 5, and are headed at their extremeends, so that they cannot slip outwardly from said apertures. The endportions 88 of the rod 87 are bent outwardly near the inner end of theheadboard, as represented at 89, Fig. 2, to form thumb-pieces for theuse of the attendant, and at the extreme ends of the transverse ormiddle portion of the rod 87 the latter normally lies within therecesses 84 of the plates 83 and is adapted to engage at the same timeany one of the ratchet-teeth of the plates 85. The end portions 88 ofthe rod 87 pass along the upper edges of pins 90, Fig. 5, carried by theside bars 80 of the headboard, and these pins operate as stops toprevent the rod 87 from swinging downwardly from the plates 83 andratchet-plates 85; but the pins are so disposed that they allow theattendant by pressing on the thumb-pieces 89 to spring the transverse ormiddle portion of the rod 87 downwardly to place the same intoengagement with any one ofthe teeth of the ratchet-plates 85 inaccordance with the special position it is desired the head board orframe 23 shall have. The downward movement of the head board or frame 23will always necessitate the attendant pressing downwardly upon thethumb-pieces 89 of the rod 87, so that said rod may pass the teeth ofthe plates 85; but during the upward movement of said headboard thespring in the rod 87 will permit the latter to slip over the inclinedsurfaces of the teeth of said plates. The rod 87 constitutes, in effect,a spring pawl to engage the ratchet-plates 85 for holding the headboard23 in any of its desired adjustments, and one desirable feature of thispart of the construction is that when the ends of the middle ortransverse portion of the rod 87 are engaging the teeth of the plates 85the opposite walls of the recesses 84 in the plates 83 will also engagethe rod 87 at points adjacent to the faces of the ratchet-plates 85, andthis has the effect of enabling a reasonably light rod 87 to very firmlyand securely maintain the head board or frame 23 in its adjustedpositions. WVhenever desired, the rod 87 may be caused to hang downloosely from its inturned outer ends, so that the mid dle or transverseportion of said rod may be entirely free of the ratchet-plates 85 andthe headboard 23 turned downwardly between the right-hand legs 20 of thetable, and this result may be accomplished by simply pressing outwardlyupon the inturned headed outer ends of the rod 87 until the sideportions 88 of said rods spring outwardly beyond the outer ends of thepins 90, said pins 90 then having no efiect to retain the rod 87 in itsoperative position (shown in Fig. 5) and leaving said rod free to swingdownwardly in an unrestrained manner.

The foot board or frame 24 corresponds in general construction with thehead frame or board 23, as Fig. 2 sufficiently indicates. The side bars91 of the foot board or frame 24 are secured by pivot-pins 92 toratchet-plates 93, rigidly fastened to the right-hand ends of the sidebars of the section 27 of the table-top 25, the foot board or frame 24being thus secured in a hinged manner and being capable of being foldedfiat upon the table-top and thence turned upwardly and outwardlytherefrom, as indicated by the dotted line at the righthand side of Fig.1, it being desired that the said foot frame or board 24 may be moved tovarious adjustments suiting the requirements, three of these positionsbeing represented in Figs. 1 and 3 and another in Fig. 13.

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The foot board or, frame 25 carries a slidab1e-- pwl-rod 9.4 to engagethe teeth .ofithe .mteheh; plates 93, and. the ends of thisnodtltltmroject through-slots 95in" the side ;b e;cs l 91, Fi s.. .1,3..

and 1.4, andzhave secured..t )ntheilh 'ttll l l 5 .to-; foot,meybetl1ted sowastounverttthe paouter ends the finger-pieces 96, .Whih.li l alongthe sides of thebar 9.1.and iarePgiVeIL-ag spring tension ina direction toward th ratchet-plates 93 Jay .means' 0f th Q l springs97, which lie at the imiersideofthe; bars 91 and are at one endconneotedfihrou'gh: a pin, 9,8, therewith and at the otherend with apin99, extending from the .fingeimi eesfifi 3 through a-guiding-slot 100,termed i 51 6 said side bars91; {Elie rod .94 end (finger-1 p ec 9 consi ute a .pewlefrarhe which :is; give a t e ent w rd the .reteh tplaites93. by m a of h spr ngs/9 lendi tist ebeehlfved 0n e ere ce to F g 3 end11 that h dges Of .th '.retehe -p1etes :9 ere j se ttins th re91 e dthethe ends th ed94 rather e e yfi the lets=9 inthe said side .bars';-When;it is desire 3 0 M1]. list he ar o fr m dewnwerd y semth pos t o nWh ehi is shewnin R g 11",. th t e dentwill p ou ward y the-Afi e p e 9s to wit drew th .red 9e el e wit t e ete et-plete 9 end h he the'te theard or heme i in i s red P sit n theette de tw l relee'ej th fi ger-pe e 6 ndie l w e li d .94 t6 enter the teeth of the atehevpletes ,93,the enegeh ent 0f eeid red 94 wi h e i hat et- P ates sewing e Inein einthe feet heeird or h m 24 in positi n- Du ing e upw rd m v ment of heeet boarde them 2 he ed 94 W ll be en bled to sli over th elined' dgesof the te t o the tetehet-pletes e et h he ends 1 f the red .Qeere'ithin e et95 en th t h 'hnd her 91 ere ie to the fac of th iet he -Pleee 3 nab e us f e re eenehly sl gh h r x e r g g ng the at he -hi e .93Withent ense nee e nde th her .94: .ehtle n ppe t fr nt-the W l .e theelete .5, e We l e th Opposite W lls of the retehet teeth in the plates93.

h upp r en s ef the eg 29.0 24 the righ end e d or he f e ef hetehle'ere lef epen, so s to e n t e eeeket fer vert eel ele+ ep posts 10e Whieh t epe ere ee: u edo uppo t ng the legsef e patien he eee ery, sete t 101 bei g remova l at w n by meeh :et thei telee pi helt etelr verie lly x ens ble at Wil T e per ie of he e vetel pe ts e he ehle hasbeen fii ent y sie eri bed h e nb fer n r whe ha b en etd nd P et e 0f hr wing itwi' he. appe nt tha h hee and e t eitde 2e; IQ. pe ive y, th ybe adjust d a Will end that the m in dy of the ehle-tep 2.5 be p oy d Whn ts, eet ene ere-in e e height n' -t d eletien, es heen by f n 1 lines.in Fig- .10 be. folde npwetd y at its e' nteh'eei i e .t .f.erm,.a.donbleinclined p1ene,..as; indi Gated by he. d Qttedt lines 56-pin Fig;3,;for, use in opera tionseboutthe kidney end it Will-beapperenttthettthejgentirefltablevtop from he d tient in the .eyent ofsudden collapse.

' vvAside from t the important ;features of adjuetin.en ,.whe by the.efii ieney. 0 h table risincreesed, .elfurther feature ofthe-tableisiiteeepehi'lityef being foldedzinto smallspee fertransportationwTheWeight, of thetabl shoyv1 1 gin the ,drewings is ,ten-ty eight and o'neheltpQ ndsgendiwiththe egeholde and its casereedyf-for .tren' pertatien (it Weighs ,thit y pennd -l131 1e .entiretreble folde nesheytin inlFig- I L-is. capable Q'f being placed w thi ithese eight -;in.ehes wide, wenty-one en one ihitl'f inches deep, andWQIlhYTQI Q.3e d.- e1 i1'l(?h6S.lQIlg, end-th said table, When erected,vas illustrated in E gs- .1 .end-3,;is sixfeet 1ong,.ei hteenendonenhelfinehes Wid .andtthiitty t I66 he ig these-d mension endweightsbeing refe fed to ,not as ;limiting features, :but as inhea ngtheeapabilityflof the tableof being compactly folded and ,cojnvenientlytranspqnted from place to lace fo use in surgical Qpere iQn When t .e tale is to h f lded in the condition .in which .it is illustrated in ig-'therael her .69 Wil be Withdrawn from the eeps 70 and tuned upward yalong the inner sideof the side .barsof the Secti0n 27 0f thetable-top25, ,a dseid table-{top will :be move to it h izon p tionbetween the side bars 21 of the table-flame. The latches .5 and 6 wi lhe turn from their locking peet i'en, end h heecg end toot fram s 23 .4h turned toward .eeeh other and rest fiat pon the table-t p 2 the lekingeleetces 7 .W then he move upwardly pon the egs 20, and th eg-brew22 ill he n: hooked from the pins 50 and have their sec tions foldedtogether nd t olded up: e ly un il he r .et p pins 60 st i th ett r e gei t side here 1 of the ab e: hem The; tab will then he ai 1. 1 11 its deupon the fleQr, en the sections of the able legs-2 w l be o ded eg ins ech ther, as llustrate n Fignd t e d bl ect on of sai legs turne ere einst he hen o t sides o th h e f ot end t ere p n the ta et p an sid her2 1 wi l on their central jo nts be brought oge he the under sid of thee en 29 30 of a d e e e and t und rs of th ee: 01, 11 26 27 of thetable-top folding toward e h other an e ng the s tions of on pei of helegs 0 at me id of t e th n fe de d e rnetnte e e s et e e of he otherpe r .Qf eeid leg at he ot r side of the then lded e ruetnre, the wholebe g e n. he eind tien sh wn in Eige nd dapt o. e httedneesi in e. a suta le eet el. e ease for ece ving he seinehe. pests. .01 f r re:

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ceiving the straps 102 constitute simply an attachment for the table,and they may be used or not, as may be desired. If they should happen tobe on the table at the time it is desired to fold the same, they ofcourse will be removed before the table is folded.

l/Vhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

= 1. The operating-table comprising the legs, side bars, table-tophinged at one end, and rack and pinion mechanism operable by a crank forraising and lowering said top from its other end, said top beingnormally set in between said side bars, and said side bars and top beingindependently composed of hinged sections in end-to-end relation withthe pintles of the hinges in line with each other and about on a linewith the transverse center of the table so that they may be togetherfolded downwardly and also so that said top may be independently giventhe position of a double incline for certain operations, combined withfoldable means adjacent to the center of the table for, after thetabletop has been raised to an inclined position, firmly supporting thehinged end section of said top in its inclined position while the othersection of said top is being lowered at its outer end by saidrack-and-pinion mechanism to create the double incline, the foldablehead and foot frames at the ends of the table and one of which iscarried by the free end of said top, and means for adjusting theinclination of said frames; substantially as set forth.

2. The operating-table comprising the legs, side bars, table top hingedat one end, and rack-and-pinion mechanism operable by a crank forraising and lowering said top from its other end, said side bars and topbeing independently composed of hinged sections in end-to-end relationwith the pintles of the hinges about on a line with the transversecenter of the table so that they may be together folded downwardly andalso so that said top may be independently given the po sition of adouble incline for certain operations, combined with foldable meansadjacent to the center of the table for, after the tabletop has beenraised to an inclined position, firmly supporting the hinged end sectionof said top in its inclined position while the other section of said topis being lowered atits outer end bysaid rack-and-pinion mechanism tocreate the double incline, the foldable head and foot frames at the endsof the table and one of which is carried by the free end of said top,and means for adjusting the inclination of said frames; substantially asset forth.

3. The operating-table comprising the side bars, the hinged legscomposed of hinged foldable sections, the foldable leg-braces hinged attheir upper ends at about the center of said side bars and adapted attheir lower ends to be detachably connected to said legs, the table-tophinged at one end, and means for raising and lowering said top from tsother end, said side bars and top each be ng 1ndependently composed ofsections lunged together at about the transverse center of the table sothat they may be together folded downwardly and also so that said topmay be independently given the position of a double incline for certainoperations, combined with means adjacent to the center of the table forsupporting the hinged end section of said top in an upwardly-inclinedposition whlle the other section of said top is inclined downwardly, thehinged head and foot frames at the ends of the table and adapted to befolded down upon said top, and means for securing said head and footframes in the desired adjustments substantially as set forth.

4. The operating-table comprismg the legs, side bars, table-top hingedat one end, and means for raising and lowering said top from its otherend, said side bars and top eachbeing independently composed of sectionshinged together at about the transverse cen ter of the table so thatthey may be together folded downwardly and also so that said top may beindependently given the position of a double incline for certainoperations, com: bined with means adjacent to the center of the tablefor supporting the hinged end sec tion of said top in anupwardly-inclined position while the other section of said top isnclined downwardly, means connected with said side bars for lockingtheir sections to gether at their joint in horizontal extended position,means connected with the hinged table-top sections for locking themtogether at their joint in their horizontal extended po sition, and thehead and foot frames at the ends of the table; substantially as setforth.

5. The operating-table comprising the side bars, the hinged legscomposed of hinged fold able sections, the movable sleeves on said legsto pass over the joint between said sections, and the hinged sectionalfoldable legbraces adapted at their lower ends to be detachablyconnected to said legs and to be locked thereto by the lower edge ofsaid sleeves, combined with the table-top hinged at one end, and meansfor raising and lowering said top from its other end, said side bars andtop being composed of sections hinged together at about the transversecenter of the table so that they may be folded; substantially as setforth.

6. The operating-table comprising the side bars, legs, h nged table-top,and means for raising and lowering said top from its free end, combinedwith the frame hinged at the end of said table-top, and thepawl-andratchet mechanism for securing said frame in its desiredpositions, said mechanism comprising the-ratchet-plates 85, the plates83 constituting a part of said frame and having the recesses 84, the rod87 Whose transverse portions engage said recesses and said ratchetplatesand Whose end portions 88 extend Signed at Brooklyn,-in the county ofKings 10 and State of New York, this 7th day of March,

JOSEPH SCHOETTL. CHRISTIAN J AEGER. PAUL WALSLEBEN. Witnesses:

JAMES ALBERTsEN, 'Jr., EDWIN L. REED.

